[Vitamins in pregnancy].

Vitamins are essential for the growth and normal function of human body. There are very few reports on vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women and newborn. Vitamin B complex includes various fractions essential to proper nutrition. The absence of vitamin C results Barlow disease in newborn. Vitamin D, the antirachitic Vitamin, is of great importance in safeguarding the mother and fetus from its relation to calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin E is also useful for the treatment of toxemia of pregnancy, intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), and neonatal jaundice. Vitamin K is well known for the protection of neonatal hemorrhage. The 6th recommended dietary allowances for Japanese in 1999 is shown in the table.